Nippur, Religious archaeological site in southeastern Iraq
Nippur is an ancient city in Al-Qadisiyya Governorate in southeastern Iraq that developed over many centuries as a religious center. The excavation site includes temples, residential buildings, and a scribal quarter whose layouts remain visible in the layered ruins today.
The site was already inhabited during the early Neolithic period and developed into a religious focal point of Mesopotamia under the Sumerians. Successive dynasties expanded the temple over many centuries until the city was abandoned after 800.
The ruins of the temple served as a religious center where rulers from across Mesopotamia came to have their authority confirmed. The site drew scholars who assembled one of the largest collections of written records in the region.
The ruins lie away from main roads in a rural area and require good preparation with sufficient water and sun protection. Walking around the site can take several hours since the remains are spread over a large area.
Thousands of clay tablets from the scribal quarter contain parts of the Gilgamesh epic and different creation stories. These texts are among the oldest written narratives in human history.
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